Sausages ?

The rickety old farmhouse is divided in two by a corridor sixty feet long and twelve feet wide. In the old days the area where wood would be stored and the business of the day transacted. Now a place where Wilf can rug surf across the shiney old floor tiles to his hearts delight. Last night he was at his comedic best. He has perfected a routine where he walks, head held insouciantly high, to the end of the corridor . Then in a flash he turns, head down and charges at full speed for forty feet before leaping, full force, onto a rug . Wilf and rug then go sailing past in best surfer dude fashion. The look on his face is priceless. 'Bet you weren't expecting that !'. " Maybe not the first twenty times " we reply.

To the vets for some more Cortisone. A slight misunderstanding about the purpose of our visit. " I'll drive out and be with you in half an hour " he says. A smile and a gallic shrug of the shoulders when I explain that all we need is some more of this marvellous life affirming medication. Time enough for him to make that special house call later - hopefully much later.

Pasta for dinner and roast chicken for lunch. The bowl licked, spotlessly, clean. Another day of long walks. Five of them yesterday. In the afternoon he heads out, yours truly in tow, to a lane we've often walked past but never been down before. He ploughs on determined to use the time that's left to explore new sights and places. Boundless energy and a new found zest for life. A burning desire to just see over the brow of that hill or round that next corner.

Day 5. We're already 66% over the initial three days alloted to us. Man proposes, God disposes. Wilf's happy and mercifully pain free. There's no greater gift. Tonight the village is having a party on the petanque court. In readiness a mobile discotheque has already appeared . Wilf christened each of its tyres on his first walk of the new day. Fun and frolics are in store. If Madame Bay is in the kitchen there may be sausages.

Amazing. A year ago to the day since we left Italy.